West Lothian sisters share story of losing mum to meningitis

Two West Lothian sisters are sharing their story of losing their mum to meningitis with Forth News.

Amanda Sime was 48 when she suddenly passed away in April last year, having previously dismissed her symptoms as a cold.

Her daughter Rebecca found her unconscious in her home, after going to check on her.

She said: "We wouldn't have thought it was any concern to go to a doctor at all. She must've deteriorated in four or five hours, we've narrowed it down to.

"We had all sorts going round our head, thinking she might have accidentally overdosed on cold and flu tablets, but generally she was a healthy woman.

"She was a hard worker - she was even at work that morning. It was just so sudden.

"We're now aware of the symptoms. I never knew that you didn't need to get a rash - I always assumed you would get a rash."

Rebecca and her sister Jessica are now sharing their story to raise awareness of the disease's warning signs, ahead of World Meningitis Day on Wednesday April 23.

Rebecca's sister Jessica said: "It's definitely opened our eyes because we always thought it was just a rash.

"Mum always said about the rash and putting a glass on it, but it's not just that. There are other sypmtoms that you need to look out for."

Some of the early signs on meningitis include fever, headache, stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pain and cold hands or feet